travel
Family travel is complicated. And sometimes fun.
Toddler Travel
Recently my grandma, my daughter and I flew to Washington state to visit some family. One of the biggest things on my mind as we prepped for the trip was taking every precaution we could to make sure my two year old wasn't that one kid on the plane that everybody hates. Plan A was that she would sleep the entire time we were flying but Plan B and C were snacks and easy entertainment. Let's explore some of the steps I took to ensure my kid wasn't 'that kid' on our flights.
By Courtney Seever5 years ago in Families
A Time for Courage
Beneath the forest of towering masts, busy stevedores' calls echoed along the wharf as the bells of Saint Brigid's rang the six o'clock hour. Pipe smoke swirled around a pair of captains who stood between the entrances of two pubs, where they monitored their ships and glared away any sailors who considered ducking in for a last draught before their voyage. Seagulls bickered over fish guts a kitchen girl threw into the street in front of the Peculiar Puffin. The more weathered captain pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat and pretended to look at it, gesturing toward a nearby shadow.
By Ben Waggoner5 years ago in Families
Back Home in the Middle of Nowhere
I have a complicated relationship with missing people. When I did my first stint away from home at sixteen, I was excited and champing at the bit to get out into the world. I spent five weeks away from home (granted, it was less than two hours’ distance), at a summer ballet program in a nearby city. The city, that distance of less than two hours, brought with it a culture shock in stark contrast to my hometown. I got used to subways, to walking, to my daily commute, to a diversity of people that rural, white America never showed me, to crossing the street to avoid the men loitering in front of corner grocery stores, fingers crossed no one would follow me home. At sixteen, I took on these challenges with an optimism older me both admires and misses. The change from country to city, from quiet to loud, from slow to busy happened quickly, so I put my hometown out of my mind and adapted.
By charlotte meilaender5 years ago in Families
The old becomes new again: Adelaide's Comes to the Taylor Hotel
New owner Cyndy Hayward learned early on and first-hand that the hotel has a special significance to peninsula residents. As soon as work on the building began, community members "rallied round" in support of efforts to restore the building and bring its original owner back into the public eye. Yes, "Adelaide's" is coming to town - named in honor of Mrs. William Taylor who, with her husband, opened the Taylor House as a hotel and boarding house in 1887.
By rahul kumar5 years ago in Families
Our Moment
“Hey, Johnny. Do you like applesauce?” Johnny was sitting right next to his dad, but his mind was almost 3,000 miles away. Johnny and his dad had gone on an “adventure” to Baja, California, and Johnny got no joy out of it. He would rather be back at home online gaming. He played super smash bros religiously as a Donkey Kong main (as they say in the smash community). Out of all his friends, Johnny was the best, and they all knew it. He would spend hours playing Super Smash Bros on his Nintendo Switch and studying all the game mechanics. Johnny would come home from school and play until the wee hours of the next day, and in the summer, it was almost a 24-hour affair. Sometimes he wouldn’t change clothes and even forgot to eat. He loved it.
By Kawan Glover5 years ago in Families
THE PEN PALS
By the end of October 1975, I had completed my thesis work and had finished the first draft of my Ph.D. dissertation. I spoke to Prof. Cross about my desire to go to Trinidad to see my girlfriend; he promptly agreed that I deserved some time off from my three years long extremely hectic and demanding study and research schedule. He and Mrs. Cross were aware of my friendship with Manisha. Now my five Ph.D. program committee members had to read my dissertation and offer their comments. That would take around two weeks, so I was free to go out during this period.
By Arun Kumar Ph. D.5 years ago in Families
Top 10 Island Vacations to Undertake Before you Kick the Bucket
My grandmother used to say how I should never let my dreams be just dreams. How I should live my life to the brim, taste every experience and enjoy each moment. On my sixth birthday, she even gifted me a charm bracelet with ‘Carpe Diem’ etched in silver to help me remember this principle. In retrospect, I cannot help but think she is right. At present, I find myself consumed by work to such an extent that I have forgotten what a breath of fresh air feels like.
By Robert George5 years ago in Families
Typical Day on a Boat
To get out to the wreck nearest our county, a boat must travel at least an hour and a half. We wanted to get past the West Florida Shelf toward the deeper water in the escarpment area. There are many areas with wrecks, man-made reefs, and even a WWII ship out there, great havens for tons of fish. These areas are about 2800’ deep, and that’s where the more decent dinner fish are- grouper, amberjack, mackerel, and dolphinfish (also called mahi mahi). I joked that I’m only there to catch the bait fish.
By Barb Dukeman5 years ago in Families
Trains, Cornfields, Animals, and Barns
One of the marketable traits of Florida is the excessive warmth with which we live all year round. Apparently, it gets mighty cold in other states. Time for a summer road trip! The farther north we traveled, the stranger the signs became. As we passed through north Florida, we saw signs warning us that the road may become icy during winter. I sure hope it doesn’t get icy in the summer. In South Carolina, the signs said, “Bridge Freezes Before Road.” Vaguely threatening. Farther to the north, the signs warned of more frigid pavement. I’m surprised we didn’t come across signs that said, “Danger-Road Still Frozen from Last Year.”
By Barb Dukeman5 years ago in Families
